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While helping to carefully move the elderly woman’s body from an ambulance gurney to that of the funeral home, I swallowed hard and put on a brave face.

This was not just the victim of a tragic motor vehicle accident: she was a wife, mother and grandmother and her death would leave a hole in the hearts of many.

Knowing it was not something I would or should forget, a kindly sergeant inquired afterwards as to whether I was okay.

As a freshman Ontario Provincial Police auxiliary constable (Burlington Detachment), it struck me that this volunteer job is more than dressing up in a uniform or doing cruiser checks every Sunday morning. It also is dealing with the reality of death, pain and bottomless grief.

I have witnessed empathetic OPP officers notify next of kin, the aftermath of suicide, watched officers put the cuffs on drunk drivers and seen an angry wife chewing out her truck-driving husband for risking their livelihood after being picked up for allegedly driving under the influence.

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There are 785 — 157 women and 628 men — OPP auxiliary officers from all walks of life who volunteer their time helping out at community events (including the popular OPP booth at the Canadian International Auto Show) and raising money for various charities.

And when they can find time, auxiliary officers are a second set of eyes and ears on ride-alongs. Not only do they provide backup should something happen, they keep officers company during their long shifts.

Inspector Robyn MacEachern, whose community safety services duties include overseeing auxiliary officers, heaps praise on the volunteer program established in 1960. Prior to that, it was known as the Emergency Measures Organization, trained in crowd control and first aid in the event of a nuclear attack from the Soviet Union.

MacEachern said that, in December, auxiliary officers across the provinces contributed more than 4,500 hours and raised more than $2 million worth of Christmas toys, food and money donations for area social agencies, including food banks.

“That’s incredible. All members of the OPP have an incredible community-based approach and commitment, but we really see that in our auxiliary members,” she said.

“I often say it is the jewel in the crown.”

Just recently, Burlington auxiliary Sergeant Paul Elms, a retired steel worker, was recognized by OPP Commissioner Vince Hawkes for his almost 50 years of volunteering. Besides being commissioner for a day, Elms received a commissioner’s commemorative badge.

Elms told the commissioner that back in the day, the role of the auxiliary officer was even more hands-on. And that at one time, they even carried badges. That’s not the case now.

Auxiliary officers get to drive cruisers on occasion, usually to special events. For some, including me, that never grows old — even though we are strictly prohibited from driving with emergency lights or sirens.

After all, auxiliary members are not cops. We don’t carry guns and our powers of arrest are no more than any other civilian, but we could be called on to assist a regular member with an arrest.

We are the light blue shirts. The colour identifies us as volunteers along with the bright yellow AUXILIARY on our body armour and auxiliary epaulettes on our shirt and jacket. Also, we’ll soon have blue checked hat bands.

Commissioner Hawkes sees this group of volunteers as a valued farm team for the OPP.

“The auxiliary program is an excellent opportunity for the participants to explore police work and consider it as a possible career. Many have gone on to become police officers . . . ,” he said.

Much consternation recently rippled through the ranks of auxiliary officers in police services across the provinces when the Royal Canadian Mounted Police put a halt to ride-alongs and firearms training for its auxiliary members, a decision that has been very controversial.

“Auxiliaries are the extra eyes, ears and muscle if you need it and you certainly need it at times,” said Christoffersen, who rode with auxiliary officers for 25 years as he worked highway patrol in Banff and Srathcona County before retiring to Fort Saskatchewan in 2002.

Hawkes was quick to assuage fears by putting out a statement that it was business as usual for the provincial force, which among other things provides annual use of force and firearms training for its auxiliary members.

“We commit to providing our auxiliary members with the best training . . . take it very seriously,” the OPP’s MacEachern said.

The mission statement for the OPP auxiliary is as follows:

"To provide fully trained volunteer auxiliary members to assist in the delivery of traffic safety and community-based crime prevention initiatives and; to perform police duties only in special circumstances, including an emergency that the police officers of the OPP are not sufficiently numerous to deal with."

To be clear, auxiliary members have no police authority/power and must rely on the same arrest provisions afforded regular citizens. However, the Police Services Act does provide for instances when they may have the authority of a police officer. This can occur when the OPP requires additional strength to cope with a special occasion or event.

For further information on the auxiliary program and what it takes to become a member, see the OPP website, www.opp.ca

Richard J. Brennan, a retired Toronto Star political reporter, joined the OPP auxiliary program at age 65. He was class valedictorian and finished at the top of his class for fitness after graduating from a one-week intensive training program.

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